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Created: By Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778–1855) (July 1809)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Rebecca Daly (ed.)
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In July 1809 the Anglo-Welsh naturalist Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778–1855) accompanied by his lifelong friend Joseph Woods and another companion named Leach, whose identity has not been positively established,1 paid a visit to Killarney where they spent some days exploring the town and its neighbourhood. Dillwyn kept a diary of his tour the original of which, contained in a small closely-written volume of pocket-book size, is today preserved in Trinity College Dublin (Ms. 967). From it can be reconstructed the following outline of his itinerary. Crossing from Milford Haven to Waterford on 6 July, between that date and 16 July he travelled, firstly, to Dungarvan via Kilmacthomas: from thence to Youghal via Clashmore and then on to Cork city via Castle Martyr and Midleton. He remained two days in Cork (which impressed him as ‘a large and handsome city’) and then travelled on to Clonakilty, Dunmanway and Bantry. From Bantry he proceeded to Kenmare and Killarney where he remained for one week. Leaving Killarney he proceeded by stages to Millstreet, Mallow, Clogheen and Clonmel, from which latter town he returned on 30 July to Waterford, and from there arrived back in Milford Haven on 1 August. His Kerry sojourn, therefore, though occupying the largest space in his diary comprises only a part of his total itinerary.
The following facts concerning Dillwyn have been gleaned from the Dictionary of National Biography.2 He was born in Ipswich, son of William Dillwyn of Highham Lodge, Walthamstow, and was descended from an old Breconshire family. His father was a member of the Society of Friends at whose school in Folkestone he was first enrolled before going in 1798 to Dover where he began his study of botany. His later publications included The natural history of British confervae (1802–9), The botanist's guide through England and Wales [a collaborative work] (1805), and A descriptive catalogue of British shells (1817).
In 1803 his father placed him in charge of a pottery which he had
Dillwyn and his companions were, no doubt, mainly interested in the flora and fauna of the south of Ireland in general and of the Killarney area in particular. Killarney was, of course, by this time well established as a tourist attraction. Its proprietors the earls of Kenmare had early recognised its potential in this respect and commencing around the year 1750 took steps to provide comfortable accommodation for visitors to the town and boats for hire on the lakes.3 The contemporary romantic movement in literature and the arts, with its emphasis on the rural, the rustic and the antique, provided a favourable climate for their efforts and during the decades that followed there converged on Killarney a thickening throng of misty-eyed romantics, weaned on a literary diet of Mac Pherson and Sir Walter Scott, all straining to catch among her lakes and dells the last dying cadences of Hibernia's perenially-broken harp strings. The doyen of the cult in Ireland, Thomas Moore himself, descended on the scene, was appropriately affected and penned in memory of his visit his Innisfallen fare thee well.
Fortunately, Dillwyn shared to some extent the fashionable tastes of his age. Thus, while his diary contains numerous botanical references, and may even provide the earliest record of certain plant species for Kerry, he tells us even more about the towns and villages through which he passed, the antiquities he visited and the condition, manners and customs of the people with whom he came in contact. He had the advantage of possessing a readymade introduction to the Killarney area in the shape of an account of a tour published two years earlier, by the Dubliner Isaac Weld, entitled Illustrations of the scenery of Killarney and the surrounding country (London 1805). It
There was, however, a less attractive side to Dillwyn. He was, unfortunately, a religious bigot and his references to the Catholic clergy and Catholic worship in Killarney, though of course he would probably not have expressed such views in public, betray a crudely sectarian outlook at odds with the well-deserved reputation for tolerance and philanthropy acquired by the Society of Friends in Ireland later in the nineteenth century.5 One must, of course, see his prejudice in the context of his age when sectarian bigotry on all sides was the rule rather than the exception. In addition, he displays certain other unattractive traits, typical of colonialists in every age. He arrived already well stocked with prejudices and, one suspects, found among those he encountered socially — land agents, attorneys, and officials — many who were anxious to reinforce and add to them. Nevertheless, his account, though unsympathetic, is no doubt often accurate.
Like many other visitors he was, for instance, forcibly struck by the lack of a middle class in Irish society. The people he encountered were, he remarks, either well dressed or in rags — their habitations for the most part either mansions or hovels. He complains like many other travellers of the Irish readiness to take financial advantage of strangers. The inns and hotels at which he stayed varied considerably. Some were excellent, others — like the inn he first put up in at Checkpoint, Co. Waterford — quite vile. The ingratiating manners of innkeepers, boatmen and jarveys apart, the abiding impression one receives from his account is of a sullen population smarting under many oppressions and in consequence chronically prone to violence. In the course of his short visit Dillwyn notes five murders (four of
It should be noted that while the text which follows is in the main a faithful transcript of Dillwyn's manuscript, some lengthy passages descriptive of the geography of the Killarney lakes as well as quotations from published works and one or two brief passages of botanical theorising have been silently omitted. (The botanical names of all plants noted by Dillwyn are, however, listed). In addition, the text has been broken into paragraphs — an arrangement not employed in the original diary.
Tuesday, July 18th
We had engaged to breakfast at Ballylickey6 which lies near the Road from Bantry to Kenmare, & we accordingly left our inn soon after seven. Bantry is rather a small town situated on a Creek at a short distance from the Bay, & it's only decent inn is what the generality of English Travellers would call most miserable. In the Bay large quantities of corallines are dredged up for the purposes of manure,7 & on our way to Miss Hutchins's8 I for an hour examined some Heapes in which I found several scarce and valuable shells &
The Priest's Leap divides the Counties of Cork & Kerry into the latter of which we entered when we passed it's Summit. About 100 yards from the top of the Mountain we crossed a small Bridge on which three months ago the Revd Mr. Tisdall,13 Protestant Vicar of
It is the custom of this Country when any person has been murdered to form a heap of stones on the Spot, to which every Passer
The Priest's Leap is said to be more than 2,000 feet above the level of the Sea,17 and the prospect from its Summit is very grand and extensive. To the Southward the smooth & glassy surface of Bantry Bay with its numerous creeks & Inlets formed a fine contrast to the dark line of its surrounding Mountains, & a large tract of Country with the Atlantic Ocean beyond as if spread in a Map beneath us. To the North immediately below us appeared a Tract of dreary Peat without either a House or Tree in view, & beyond it the numerous vast Mountains of Kerry, many of which have no connection with each other, but rise separately from their own Bases, & in this respect the view differs from any other that I have ever seen.
At half past six having all met together and found our Carriage at the foot of the Mountain we proceeded towards Kenmare where however we did not arrive till half past eight tho' its distance from Bantry is said to be only 12 Irish Miles.18 We had sent a Message to the Inn desiring that some Dinner might be prepared against our arrival, but it was not ready till an hour after, & a long hour it seemed for we had not eaten a Mouthfull since Breakfast. I had a violent Cold and felt so much indisposed that tho' I was not at all over fatigued I fell fast asleep immediately after Dinner and was unable even to journalise or preserve my Specimens that Evening.
Wednesday, July 19th
We had taken up our Quarters at a comfortable Inn, which is kept
There are two Roads from Kenmare to Killarney, by one of which the distance is 12 & by the other 20 or 24 Miles.22 The former, however, is extremely mountainous & the latter is flat, & as we were told that it also passes thro' a far more beautiful country, we gave it the preference & set out accordingly at ½ past 10.
As near as it is possible to judge of distances where the Roads have never been measured & where they are reckoned differently by every Person you meet, the Country thro' which we passed for the first six Miles was not at all particularly picturesque. It then however became romantic & we soon afterwards entered a very extensive wood of Oak
About a mile or two from this place our course suddenly changed from Northward to Westward & we then passed the much and deservedly admired Flesk Rocks which take their Name from the River that winds along their Feet. They are in many places nearly perpendicular, & notwithstanding their apparent want of Soil, are beautifully scattered over with Oak, Birch & Ash Trees many of which have attained a large size. My idea is that their height is not less than 600 feet. From thence as we approached Killarney, the view with the cloud capt Summits of Macgillycuddy's Reeks in our front, became more & more mountainous & more sublime.
The entrance into the Town thro' Lord Kenmare's Plantation is handsome but we have yet had no good view of the Lake, Killarney being near two English Miles from it's Banks. We drove to Coffees Hotel which tho' very large for a County Inn was so full that we were shoved about from one Room to another, & were obliged to sleep in different houses over the way, which, however, were provided with good Beds.
Thursday, July 20th
We determined to commence our operations in this Neighbourhood with a visit to Dunloh Gap & accordingly set out in our Carriage, immediately after Breakfast. We drove over an excellent Road by the side of the lower Lake, & about a Mile & a half from Killarney passed the Ruins of Aghadoe Cathedral, which did not
We first ascended by the side of a clear Stream. When the River
At the further end of the defile I to my no small surprise met our Driver who having got somebody to hold his Horses had rambled to view this stupendous Scene. I asked him how he liked it. ‘Not at all’ said Pat. To my query why he replied ‘Because its such a terrible place & then what's the use of it — why to be sure is'nt one Acre of Land about Waterford worth all of it put together’.31
In this part of Ireland it seems to be the custom of the Peasantry to wrap themselves up as much as possible in all Weathers, & tho' this day has been exceptionally sultry we have scarcely seen a Man who was not great coated or a Woman who was not muffled up in a large woolen Cloak.
We regained our Chaise about 5 O'Clock, & returned by the Road
Friday, July 21st
We had set this Day apart for an excursion on the upper and lower Lakes for which purpose we rose early and were in readiness by 7 in the morning but owing to some difficulties about getting a Boat it was near 9 O'Clock before we left our Inn. Having procured a Man with a Bugle & French Horn & made all other necessary arrangements we at length set out on foot & walked along rather an uninteresting Road for nearly two Miles to Ross Castle.33 This Castle of which Weld has given an accurate Drawing34 stands just over the Bridge which connects Ross Island with the main Land & was formerly very strong & used as a Royal residence,35 but is now converted to a Barrack.36 We here embarked & were rowed along Ross Bay towards the lovely Island of Innisfallen, on the edge of which under a Canopy of Ash & Beech Trees stands the ruin of an Abbey which Lord Kenmare has converted into a Banqueting House for the accommodation of visitors.37 The northern-most points of Ross Island are formed of steep Limestone Rocks, & passing thro' a narrow strait between these and Mouse Island we reached the open Lake which then suddenly opened to our view.
In the neighbourhood of Killarney there are two Lakes, 4 or 5 Miles distant from each other, & of these one is called the upper and the other the lower Lake. The latter on which we now entered is about 7 Miles long & from 3 to 4 broad. On the West it is bounded by the steep sides of the Tommies & Glennaa Mountains & the Eastern washes a beautiful well cultivated Country over which several lofty Mountains rise at a short distance. Its surface is studded with more than thirty Islands of various sizes, some of which are barren Craigs, & others are clothed with a great variety of unusually beautiful and richly contrasted foliage. O'Donoghue's Table is a naked craig of which so much of the base has been worn away by the continued action of the water, that it appears as if it was artificially supported by four Pillars. The Weather could not have been more delightful, & the surface of the Lake was gently undulated by a faint Breeze.
Dinis Island is much resorted to by parties of pleasure, both on account of its internal beauties & the great variety of prospects which it commands. Thro' the narrow Channel at its extremity we were rowed till we had nearly arrived in Mucross Lake when turning suddenly to the right we entered the Stream which connects the upper with the lower Lake. Our Boatmen said they never before knew the Water so low, & we in consequence to lighten our Boat were obliged to land by the old Weir Bridge and walk along the Banks of the Channel till we arrived at the Eagles Nest. In its loftiest clefts large numbers of Eagles build their Nests. & are generally seen hovering about it, but in this respect we were not fortunate. We here crossed over in our Boat to the opposite shore, & landed a Cannon which our Boatmen had borrowed for the purpose at Lord Kenmare's. We fired six rounds & in the intervals our Musician who was concealed among the opposite Rocks played alternately on the Bugle & French Horn. The repeated Echoes produced by each Discharge of our Cannon resembled loud peals of Thunder & seemed to rend the Rocks. We then reimbarked & having proceeded a short distance, we again landed on a rocky point a little above the Eagles Nest where both with our Cannon and Bugle we tried another series of Echoes & thought them still finer than the last.38 We were from there rowed thro' a great variety of exquisitely beautiful scenery, along the numerous windings of the Stream. In about half an hour we arrived in a small Bason encircled by stupendous Rocks & among them a short passage called Colman's Eye from some person of that name having
Among a cluster of beautifully romantic Islands near the extremity of the Lakes is one called Royane's Island, distinguishable by its larger size, & by a Cottage which Lord Kenmare has built on it for the accommodation of Strangers. The Island consists of a rugged Rock which is covered with the Arbutus, Holly & a variety of Trees and Shrubs.
On this Island we landed & whilst an old woman who attends there on such occasions was preparing a cold Dinner that we had brought with us we wound along a Path to the summit of the Island. Every thing around was wild & magnificent and excepting the Cottage below not a Trace of Man's Labor could be seen.
We returned to our Dinner & as on one excuse or other the Musician had not complied with my request to play God save the King whilst we were on the water I now insisted that it should be played. The Boatmen, at least, pretended not to dislike it & I afterwards gave them leave to play Erin go bras if they chose.39 The principal Boatman who is a shrewd fellow said they did not like those party tunes, one of which I found is Erin go bras & the other
Having dined we reimbarked & were rowed round the upper end of the Lake to Crosbies Cottage than which it is impossible to imagine a more sequestered or romantic retreat. From thence we returned as we came, but the purple tints of Evening, & the lengthened Shadows from the mountains had so increased the beautiful effect of the Scenery that we enjoyed it almost as much as if we had not seen it before.
The Boatmen as they rowed along amused us with many Tales about O'Donoghue who was formerly Lord of this Country, & who tho' he has been dead many hundred years, still frequently appears on the Lake & is often attended with a splendid retinue.40 Our steersman who is 78 years of age declared he had very often seen him, told us many romantic particulars, in perfect unison with the wildness of the Scenery, & which he offered to confirm with an Oath. Two of the other Boatmen also declared they had seen him & that he is often seen rising from & walking or playing Goals on the Water, [and this] is by all the Lower orders in this Country, fully and firmly believed.41
We landed at nine o' Clock on the South side of Ross Island, & from thence walked thro' Lord Kenmare's Grounds to our Inn at
Saturday, July 22nd
My friends set off for the Reeks at about 4 this morning & I for the sake of my Cold indulged myself with a Book in Bed till a later hour than usual. I employed myself with writing my Journal of yesterday's excursion & a Letter home which together occupied me till after three, when I took a walk for half an hour about the Town. It is the neatest & best paved of the small Irish Towns that we have yet seen & is said to contain about 4,000 Inhabitants. Among some other very good Houses may be reckoned that of the titular Bishop which adjoins the Catholick Cathedral.46 At the end of the same street is a spacious and rather handsome Building which on enquiry I found is a Nunnery where several unfortunate Females who have taken the black veil are for ever immured.47 There are two Catholick & one Protestant Churches, but the Inhabitants are so very generally attached to the former that the latter is very little frequented. It is said that this religion is more rigidly observed here than in any other Town in Ireland, which may, I apprehend, be attributed to Lord Kenmare who with an immense Property & great influence continues firm in his attachment to the Catholick Faith, & the same may be said of nearly all the neighbouring Gentry. I am informed that Buonaparte48 by his infamous conduct towards the Pope and the Spanish Monarchy is now abhored as he ought to be by Numbers who before regarded him as their future Deliverer from the oppression under which they at present groan. Much discontent arises from their being obliged to pay
After having dined I was preparing for a walk about 6 O'Clock when my Companions returned much sooner than I had expected. They had been on the highest summit of Macgillycuddy's Reeks, the ascent to which Mr Woods says is not so difficult as Weld has represented. The highest point is called Gheran-tuel,49 and according to Kirwan's50 measurement is nearly as high as the Wyddfa of Snowden. From this my friends describe the view as magnificently extensive, but from their account the Mountain seems to offer nothing worth the trouble and fatigue of climbing it. They gathered Saxifraga Geum or rather Saxifraga hirsuta51 for I believe that the two Plants so called by Mackay are not specifically distinct, & also another Species which Mackay calls adscendens.52 The Mountain seems to afford unusually little sport for a Botanist & they gathered no other Plants which can be considered at all rare except Rhodiola rosea53, Rumex digynus54 & Asplenium viride.55
Sunday, July 23rd
We had heard that Mass in the Chapel of the Nunnery is
Wishing however to know more of their mode of worship & finding as we passed the Cathedral that the Service was about to begin, we entered it. It is a large & gaily painted Building & the Ornaments on & Paintings above the Altar seemed to be good & costly. We in particular remarked several massy Silver Candlesticks of fine workmanship on which large wax Tapers were burning. Even the Aisles & Galleries were already nearly filled with People who were busily employed in counting their Beads. There are no Pews, Seats, or Divisions of any kind whatever in the Body of the Church or Aisles, & the whole Congregation being prostrate on the Stone Floor presented a curious spectacle. In a few minutes after we entered the Priest came in, & took his station before the Altar. His livery resembled that of the Priest at the Nunnery, except that it was still finer, & his crimson Robes, besides the large white Cross, was gaudily ornamented with gold Lace. There was a fine painting of our Saviour over him & the wide difference in the appearance of the great Master & his pretended Disciple, was very striking. I never was so surprized as to find that very nearly all the Service was made up of dumb show, & the remainder consisted in ringing a little Bell, & gabbling a few sentences of Latin so that I could not distinguish a single word. The Audience said nothing & their devotion seemed
Just after our return to the Inn, Counsellor Lapp who knew me by name when at Swansea politely called on & breakfasted with us. Just afterwards we were surprized to see a Post Chaise arrive at an opposite Inn, escorted by a detachment of Dragoons, & containing nothing but a Servant Girl. On enquiry we found that she is a material Evidence against some White Boys for the murder of her Master & that the Escort was necessary to prevent her from being murdered by the Murderers Friends.57 According to the representations of Mr Lapp the people are far from being so loyal at Killarney as our Boatman wished to make us believe, & he told us that the late Riot arose from the Military Band having been pelted by a Mob whilst playing God save the King, & that they were only dispersed by a charge of Bayonets. As a Punishment for this Outrage the Colonel ordered that the same tune together with Croppies lie down should be played alternately every Evening, & he protected the Band by the Regiment.
Mr Woods having determined to devote the day to writing, Mr Leach and myself set out without him at ½ past 9 to explore the Peninsula of Mucross. We kept along the Road for about 2 Miles & then struck across some Fields to the edge of the Lake where I found Galium boreale58 growing in great abundance & Mr Leach collected several scarce Insects. We then crossed over a part of Mr Herbert's Grounds to the Ruins of Mucross Abbey,59 which is still a favorite
From the Abbey we walked to the Villages of Mucross & Clogheen, & hired a Guide to conduct us to the spots which command the finest views, & which are therefore generally visited by Travellers. The House63 is beautifully situated at the commencement of the Peninsula & is the Residence of Mr Herbert now Member for the County.64 The Domains have long been celebrated both for their internal beauties, & for the vast variety of noble Prospects which they command. Bishop Berkeley justly remarked ‘that another Louis may lay out another Versailles, but the hand of the Deity only can make Mucross’.65 The whole Peninsula consists of rugged Rocks clothed with a great variety of Trees and Shrubs which in some places are so thickly interwoven that the Lake tho' only a few yards distant cannot be seen at all & in others it appears on all sides glittering thro' the Leaves. Every opening of the Woods affords a different view of the Lake, of its Islands & the neighbouring Mountains & each vies with the other in beauty. Some of the little craggy Islands about the Banks are of the most fantastic shapes, & one of them so singularly resembles a Horse when drinking that it is every where known by the name of ‘O'Donoghue's Horse’. As we walked towards Brickeen Turk Lake was on our left & the Lower Lake on our right & in the very middle of the Peninsula we unexpectely found another small Lake whose surface like a Mirror reflected its sourrounding Rocks & Trees. The sultry heats of noon were tempered by the Breezes from the Lake; the air was filled with the fragrance of wild Flowers, & the Eye wherever it turned beheld a region of Delight, in which Nature seemed to have unlocked all her treasures.
Col. Herbert has made a Drive which extends the whole length of the Peninsula, & crossing over a Bridge goes round the Island of
At Bantry I was told that an able bodied Man gets only ten pence a day for his Labor, but the Wages are here higher I suppose owing to the Mining Establishment on Ross Island66 where from four to five hundred are employed. I asked our Guide who was a Laborer what they received at Mucross, & he told me ‘A Hog in common times but two tenpennies now we save the Hay’.67
Just as we were going to Tea Mr [?Japp]68 called & introduced Capt. White who I had before seen at Swansea & we accepted an invitation to dine with him tomorrow at his House on Ross Island. A Mr Wiggins also called on Mr Woods & they remained with us so long that we could do nothing more than journalize a little before Bedtime. Mr Wiggins is Surveyor to Lord Headley's Estates in this neighbourhood69 & they both arrived here a few hours before on their way to Tralee Assize in consequence of 180 of his Lordship's Tenants having signed a resolution that they would pay no more rent!
Monday, July 24th
After an early Breakfast we set out on foot to ascend Mangerton, which excepting the
Reeks is the highest Mountain about Killarney. After having walked three Miles we found a Man willing to be our Guide with whom at ½ past 9 we began the ascent. We wound up a rugged Path & in a short time enjoyed a Bird's Eye view of both the upper and lower Lakes & of all their Islands, Bays, Inlets & Promontories which with their surrounding Mountains form the finest Landscape I have ever seen. In three hours we reached a large Lake situated at the bottom of an enormous hollow near the top of Mangerton & surrounded by rocky Precipices of a tremendous height. It is said to be unfathomable and its Irish name signifies the Pit of Hell70 but it is more usually called the Devil's Punch Bowl. It is
The People of the Country are extremely superstitious & our Guide amused us all the way with stories about O'Donoghue, Histories of Fairies, Ghosts, etc. He very gravely told us that the Devil is often seen in every kind of Shape, except that of a Lamb, but that he may always be readily known by a cloven Hoof, which he can neither alter the appearance of or hide. This Wicked One or his Imps sometimes play such pranks about the Mountains that a Priest is not
Among other traditions one Guide told me that the Danes when they possessed this Country used to make a most excellent kind of Beer from the common Heath of which the natives were so fond that they by force retained two of these Invaders when the remainder reimbarked in order to compel them to teach the manner of brewing it. The two thus retained were a Father & his Son who were tempted with large promises & threatened with torture for the purpose, but the former is said to have killed the latter & then himself to prevent the valuable secret from being known to the Irish who still lament their ignorance of this favourite Beverage of their Ancestors.73
From the foot of the Mountain we walked to Mucross & again admired its venerable Abbey, & then strolled across the Domain to the Quay where we found Captain White's four-oared Boat in waiting which landed us on Ross Island at 5 o Clock. After having been hospitably entertained by Captain White we returned to the Inn on foot & were when we arrived so thoroughly tired that we went almost directly to Bed.
Tuesday, July 25th
Mr Woods is so delighted with the Scenery about Killarney & has found travelling so injurious to his Health that if he could procure a suitable Apartment he determined on spending a few weeks on the borders of the Lake. To the search for some such Apartment he devoted this morning & succeeded in fixing himself very comfortably at Mucross. In the meanwhile Leach & myself, anxious to make the best use of our time strolled to the Quay at Ross Castle with the intention of hiring a Boat & crossing the Lake to O'Sullivan's Cascade, but alas, every Boat was engaged. We then went on to Ross Mines for the purpose of borrowing Captain White's which he had obligingly said should be always at our service, but here a fresh Disappointment awaited us, for the Boat had been sunk just before in
order to stop it from Leading.74 I however derived some consolation
Wednesday, July 26th
When the Party was formed it was our intention to have gone from Killarney to Dingle, & from thence via Tralee to Limerick but the loss of Mr Woods' Company, added to the great difficulty (or rather impossibility) of getting either Chaises or Beds in the neighbourhood of Tralee during the time of the Assizes which will not be over till next Monday, induced Mr Leach & myself to abandon this part of our Plan & we determined on proceeding by the direct Road to Clonmel. I rose soon after 6 & packed my Luggage in hopes that we should have been able to procure a Chaisee (for which our Landlord offered to use his best endeavours) & have set out for Mill Street in the afternoon. As soon as we had breakfasted we walked to the Ross Island Mine where Capt. White had promised that his Boat should be at our disposal. On the Hedges near the Mine we found Vicia sylvatica76 growing in great abundance & which I am much mistaken if I did not see growing in Mucross Abbey but if so it was there out of flower. We embarked about 10 in Company with a City Ship Merchant who begged to be of our Party, & were first landed on Innisfallen which excepting that of Ross is the largest Island on the Lakes, & contains about 18 Irish Acres. An old Man who inhabits the only Cottage on the Island officially introduced himself as our Guide & first conducted us over the old Abbey, whose ruins covered with Ivey are far more extensive than they appeared to be as I passed them on Friday.77 The old Chapel is beautifully situated on a Rock
Our Companion seemed to have no idea of Happiness excepting that of making Money & made a great boast of having as he passed thro' Killarney on his way to Tralee about Business, thus given up one whole day to see the Lakes. He absolutely called us back to ask the name of a Plant that beautifully covered an old Wall & we told him it was Ivy which it seems he had neither seen or heard of before. The leaves were unusually large & it grew perhaps more luxuriantly than I had ever before seen it. He also enquired the name of a Tree which he much admired & when told it was an Ash he declared he should have known the Timber if it had been stripped of the Leaves & began immediately to calculate its value. We found an Orobanche80 which is common on Ivy & which Mr Drummond considers as a new Species. When the great City Ship Owner heard such a fine outlandish Name applied to such an ugly Weed he seemed much surprized & his ignorance afforded Leach such a fair opportunity for quizzing & cramming him that he occasioned us a good deal of merriment.
- 'to spoil the Dance of youthful Blood
And strike the Dimple from the Cheek of Mirth.'79
Innisfallen is skirted on all sides with Ash, Yew & Holly, which have grown to an unusually enormous size (expecially the latter of which one Tree measures 11 feet in circumference) & it abounds with such lovely scenery that I could readily have fancied myself in the very Island of Calypso. I was particularly pleased with the beautiful contrast formed by the silvery tints of the Ash & the solemn shades of the Yew as their quivering Leaves appeared reflected together on the surface of the Lake beneath them.
From this Island we were rowed across the Lake & landed among some noble Woods at the foot of the Tomies Mountain, which after having ascended about 50 yards we saw the White Foam of O'Sullivan's Cascade sparkling among the Leaves. We found the Stream much more miserable than we expected but the Cascade is not near equally high, nor independent of the far finer Woods by which it is surrounded, so I think it equally beautiful with the lower (?)Culhepeste to which of the Falls about Pont Nedd Vechn81 it bears most resemblance. Hymenophyllum alatum82 of English Botany grows on the Rocks about the Cascade in great profusion & an examination of recent Specimens has increased my suspicion that it ought not to be regarded as any thing more than a variety of the common Species. On the Rocks we also gathered Dicranum majus, Dicranum falcatum83, Hypnum proliferum84 & several other Mosses in front & on some marshy ground we saw Sium verticillatum85 which is rather a common Plant in the neighbourhood of Killarney. The City Merchant, surprized to see us gather such large quantities of the Hymenophyllums [sic] was very inquisitive about its use, & Leach so far made him believe, tho' it is the most scentless of Plants, that it is used by the West Indians in the manufacture of Snuff & gives the fine flavor to Majueba, that he seemed half inclined to ship a Cargo for the London Market.
On our return there was only a gentle Breeze but the waves were sufficiently high to make me feel a little uncomfortable, & the Lake especially in this part is often so violently agitated that even Lord Kenmare's large Yacht dares not venture out. Hurricanes even during the finest Weather, so often & so suddenly descend with impetuous fury from the Mountain that no Boat ever ventures to carry a Sail on the Lake. As the Merchant wished to extend his Voyage, and see a few other Wonders, besides Ivy, to tell about in the City, we agreed for his conveneancy to be landed on the outermost point of Ross Island, from which we walked to the Mines. The Man who steered our Boat was a remarkable, shrewd & nearly the most impudent Fellow I every met with & he gave us the following account of himself in the face of the other Boatmen without the least hesitation. ‘I was born & bred in Killarney & have lately been discharged on account of my Wounds from his Majesty's Navy in which I have served most of
We examined the Copper Ore at the Mines which we found imbedded in Lime Stone & were told that till lately it had not been worked since the Danes were in possession of the Country. The Miners in the old Danish Shafts have found several Hammers made of a very hard Stone which is said to differ from any that the neighbourhood produces, but nothing remains of the handle except the Indenture by which it was affix'd to the Stone.86 We returned to Killarney after having spent half an hour with Capt. White, who politely offered me one of the Danish Hammers, but it was so ponderous that I hardly thought it worth bringing away.
By the road side we saw Sirex Gigas,87 which Mr Leach for a long while endeavoured to catch, but in vain. On our arrival at the Inn we were vexed to find that our Landlord's endeavours to get a Chaise had been unsuccessful. None of the Innkeepers at Killarney keep any Carriages & only three are kept in the Towne, which the Proprietor will not let for travelling when he can hire them out for pleasuring about the Lakes. The Fellow told me positively that I should not have one on Thursday, nor would he make any promise for Friday or even Saturday, under the pretence that they were half engaged. In order therefore that we might not be thus delayed, we hired a Cart to take our Luggage & determined to set out on foot for Mill Street tomorrow morning. It was late before we dined, & as we meant to rise at 5 we settled our Bill & soon afterwards retired early to Bed.
I wish to thank Dr David Dickson of Trinity College Dublin for drawing attention to Dillwyn's manuscript and the Board of the College for permission to publish it. I owe a special debt of gratitude to Miss M. Scannell, Head of Herbarium, National Botanic Gardens, for elucidating the numerous botanical references. The following also helped: Peter Tynan O'Mahony, Secretary, O'Mahony Records Society; Dr Breandán Ó Cíobháin, Coimisiún na Logainmneacha; Breandán Breathnach, Na Píobairí Uilleann; Dr Pádraig de Brún, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies; Rev. Fr Kieran O'Shea, Castleisland; Mr Danny Moriarty, Kenmare; Dr Noel Kissane, Mr Brian McKenna and Peadar Mac Mathúna, National Library; Dr Jim O'Connor and Mr Mark Holmes, Natural History Museum; Mrs K. Browne and Mrs Margaret O'Riordan, Kerry County Library.